PROTON SPONSORS LE TOUR DE LANGKAWI FOR THE 17TH YEAR RUNNING
SUBANG JAYA, 3 FEBRUARY 2012– PROTON will once again be in the thick of the action when the 17th edition of cycling’s prestigious Le Tour de Langkawi 2012 kicks off later this month. Extending its support and sponsorship for the 17th successive year, the national car manufacturer today presented a mock-key and the symbolic Blue Jersey to the organizer of the Le Tour de Langkawi 2012 at a brief ceremony held at the PROTON Centre of Excellence in Subang Jaya.
PROTON has been a sponsor of the prestigious international race for the last 16 years since it was first held in 1996. This year’s sponsorship of the tour will be of a fleet of vehicles, as well as in terms of technical support, maintenance, manpower and merchandise giveaways during the cavalcade.
The PROTON cavalcade is a procession of vehicles that will proceed ahead of the main racing peloton in promoting the tour. Proton vehicles to be used throughout the tour include variants of the Inspira and Saga, the Exora, Persona, Perdana and Satria Neo. PROTON will also be setting up promotional and sales booths at the various stops throughout the tour.
This is the third consecutive year PROTON is sponsoring the Blue Jersey which will be worn by the tour’s overall Sprint Champion. “Le Tour de Langkawi provides PROTON with a fantastic opportunity to showcase our range of vehicles not only to the local audience, but also the international riders, teams, officials and television viewers who will be following the race,” said PROTON’s Director of Group Marketing, Branding and Motorsports, John D. Chacko.
“In line with our Commitment to be Better brand promise, we at PROTON hope that our continued support of major international events being organized in the country will contribute not only towards promoting tourism but in elevating Malaysia’s status internationally.”
Le Tour de Langkawi 2012 has attracted a total of 120 cyclists representing 22 local and top international professional teams who will compete in a grueling 1414.8km stretched over 10 days. This year’s race will also see the teams being flagged at the PROTON Centre of Excellence in Shah Alam for Stage 6 which is a challenging 108km charge to the peak of Genting Highlands. A win in this Stage is also the most sought-after by the cyclists as it is the most challenging route throughout the race.
The tour starts with 20.3km individual time trial around Putrajaya on 24 February 2012 before taking competitors through Melaka, Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Pahang and ending on 4 March 2012 in Kuala Terengganu.
About PROTON
PROTON, established in 1983, is Malaysia's largest manufacturer of automobiles, and the only full-fledged OEM car manufacturer in South-East Asia. With operations in key markets from UK to the Middle East, and across South-East Asia and Australasia, especially in countries like China and Iran, PROTON produces cars to suit a range of consumer demands and preferences.
Its offerings include versatile and reliable four-door family vehicles, two-door hatchbacks for the young-at-heart, luxurious and stylish executive sedans, spacious and affordable multi-purpose vehicles, as well as the world-renowned sports cars from Lotus. Most importantly, PROTON models are now developed with Lotus Engineering, offering customers superior ride and handling experience in every drive.
PROTON’s inception as a key driver of national development has seen the brand accelerate its learning curve through technology transfer with strategic partnerships and technical collaborations. By listening to the needs of customers, PROTON cars are now steadily on track to achieve the mission for the future, with PROTON set to become a marque which builds cars with passion and soul; cars that are a delight to drive - and a pleasure to own.
